Method for managing recorded streams in a rewritable recording medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method for managing playlists of a rewritable recording medium in order to prevent unlimited playback or illegal edition of television broadcast programs or movies wherein copyright protection is required. The present invention operates by adding information needed for automatic timed deletion of consecutively recorded clips of A/V streams and deletion time information into the playlists of a recording medium such as a high density rewritable optical disc (BD-RW), whereby referring to the recorded information, the corresponding clips of A/V streams are automatically deleted.

This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/446,852 filed on May 29, 2003 and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120. Application No. Korea 2002-0031749 filed on Jun. 5, 2002 under 35 U.S.C. § 371. The entire contents of each of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for automatic timed deletion of video and audio streams stored in a recording medium such as a rewritable optical disc.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, in accordance with rapid advancement of standardization of a novel high density rewritable recording medium such as ‘Blu-ray Disc Rewritable’ (hereinafter referred to as BD-RW) where high quality video and audio data can be recorded for many hours, it is expected that related products will soon be developed and released to consumer market.

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial structure of an optical disc apparatus such as a video disc recorder (VDR) which records signals in a recording medium such as BD-RW or plays signals thereof. The optical disc apparatus may comprise an optical pickup 2 to read out recorded signals from the recording medium such as BD-RW 1 or to record processed data streams from external inputs; a VDR system 3 to process signals read out from the optical pickup 2 for playback or to transform external data streams into those suitable for recording; and an encoder 4 to encode analog signals from external sources to output to the VDR system 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, clips of A/V streams recorded in the BD-RW 1, for example, a first clip of A/V stream (Clip 1 A/V Stream) and a second clip of A/V stream (Clip 2 A/V Stream), each of which is recorded consecutively are managed by a first real playlist (Real PlayList 1) and a second real playlist (Real PlayList 2) generated automatically at the time of recording respective A/V streams, wherein respective play control information to read out and play are contained.

In addition, a playlist enabling access to sections selectively chosen from a part or whole of the A/V stream clips recorded in said manner can be generated, which is termed as a virtual playlist. Referring to FIG. 2, within the virtual playlist, a playitem of a main path (PlayItem) to read out and play the first clip of A/V stream associated with the first real playlist and a sub playitem of a subpath (Sub PlayItem) to read out and play the second clip of A/V stream associated with the second real playlist can be recorded and managed.

Accordingly, while performing a series of play operations of reading out and playing the first clip of A/V stream managed by the first real playlist, the optical disc apparatus of VDR system 3 can select and play the second clip of A/V stream managed by the second real playlist upon user request.

On the other hand, the VDR system 3, in response to user request, may delete or edit a part of the first clip of A/V stream or second clip of A/V stream. As depicted in FIG. 3, in case a part of the second clip of A/V stream is deleted, the remaining part of the partially deleted A/V stream is broken up into an A/V stream of second clip and an A/V stream of third clip with corresponding second real playlist and third real playlist generated and further managed, wherein play control information to read out and play the A/V streams are incorporated.

In order to allow a user to randomly select, edit and play real playlists managed by said procedure, a virtual playlist is generated and recorded, wherein the playitem of the main path to read out and play the A/V stream of first clip associated with the first real playlist and sub playitem of the sub path to read out and play the A/V stream of third clip associated with the third real playlist can be recorded and managed at the same time. Consequently, in response to user request, the VDR system 3 of the optical disc apparatus, while performing a series of play operations of reading out and playing the A/V stream of the first clip associated with the first real playlist, can select and play the A/V stream of the third clip associated with the third real playlist.

Because the optical disc apparatus as described, in response to user request, allows random editing of recorded clips of A/V streams and playing clips of the A/V streams, however, user's unlimited playback or illegal editing of proprietary television programs or movies are made possible, where copyright protection and payment are essential. Presently, however, an effective means to prohibit such behavior is yet to be prepared.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By taking said aspect into account, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing means for automatic timed deletion of clips of A/V streams in order to protect copyright and to secure payment for proprietary television programs and movies which are recorded in a recording medium such as a high density optical disc (BD-RW). The embodiment provides a method for managing recorded streams in a rewritable recording medium, thereby user's unlimited playback or illegal editing of digital contents recorded in a recording medium can be prohibited, where copyright protection is required.

A method of managing recorded streams in a rewritable recording medium to achieve the objective in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: recording a clip of data stream with time continuity in a rewritable recording medium; and recording additional management information in a playlist in order for automatic deletion of the clip of data stream after predetermined time.

Another method for managing recorded streams in a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: searching for and checking an automatic deletion flag and deletion time information included in a playlist corresponding to a clip of data stream recorded with time continuity in a rewritable recording medium; and determining to conduct an automatic deletion of the clip of data stream with reference to the automatic deletion flag and deletion time information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a partial structure of an optical disk apparatus such as a video disk recorder (VDR);

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams depicting a situation wherein clips of A/V streams recorded in a rewritable optical disc, including associated real playlists and a virtual playlist;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a file structure of a rewritable optical disc;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a syntax of a real playlist with an automatic deletion flag recorded by a method for managing recorded streams according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operational flowchart of a method for managing recorded streams in a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention for managing recorded streams in a rewritable recording medium will be described in detail with reference to appended drawings.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the file structure of a rewritable optical disc, such as a BD-RW. As shown in FIG. 4, the BD-RW may employ a file structure, which may include a root directory at the top of the file structure; at least one DVR directory beneath the root directory; an ‘info.dvr’ file, ‘menu.tidx’ files, and ‘mark.tidx’ files under each DVR directory; a PLAYLIST subdirectory where multiple real and virtual playlist files (*.rpls, *.vpls) are placed; a CLIPINF subdirectory where multiple clip information files (*.clpi) are placed; and a STREAM subdirectory where multiple record data stream files (*.m2ts) corresponding to respective clip information files are placed.

On the other hand, record data stream files recorded in the STREAM subdirectory, more specifically, various play control information for ‘01001.m2ts’ and ‘02002.m2ts’ files are recorded in ‘01001.clpi’ and ‘02002.clpi’ files respectively, which are placed in the CLIPINF subdirectory; playlist information which determines serial playing of the ‘01001.m2ts’ and ‘02002.m2ts’ files and order of playing can be recorded in ‘01001.rpls’ file placed in the PLAYLIST subdirectory.

As depicted in FIG. 5, within the playlist files (*.rpls, *.vpls), more specifically, in the syntax of a real playlist file (xxxx.rpls), recorded are a version number; start addresses of playlist, playlist mark, and maker private data; and playlist of user interface application information (UIAppInforPlayList) wherein a one bit automatic deletion flag (time_bomb_flag) and corresponding deletion time information (expire_time_info) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention are included. In case the automatic deletion flag is set in order to prohibit the user's arbitrary unlimited playback or editing of a clip of A/V stream where copyright protection and security for payment are needed, deletion time information is added to automatically delete the corresponding clip of A/V stream. For this purpose, one bit allocated from four bits of reserved area for word alignment by predetermined record size or from another reserved area can be used as the automatic deletion flag.

The deletion time information can be added as an absolute time information irrespective of start time of playing or relative time information counted from the start of playing, which automatic deletion flag and information of deletion time can be included in a received A/V stream. If not included in the received A/V stream, a disc recorder can set up the deletion time and activate the automatic deletion flag. In this case, deletion time may be predetermined, for example, ‘after 96 hours’.

After recording in this manner, by searching and identifying the deletion time information which is stored together with the automatic deletion flag, the optical disc apparatus of VDR system (3) may automatically delete the corresponding clip of A/V stream, thereby preventing user's unlimited playback or arbitrary editing thereof, where the automatic deletion flag is set to. This procedure is further described in the following.

FIG. 6 illustrates the operational flow of the method for managing the record data streams in a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, when the user sends a play request for a clip of A/V stream (S30) among the clips of an A/V streams stored in the BD-RW 1, the VDR system 3 may search for the playlist corresponding to the clip of A/V stream, after which it may identify a user interface application information playlist (UIAppInfoPlayList) included therein (S31).

The VDR system 3 may then search for and check the automatic deletion flag (time_bomb_flag) included in the user interface applications information playlist (S32). If the automatic deletion flag is set to, it may search for and check the deletion time information (expire_time_infor) linked with the automatic deletion flag (S34).

Thereafter, with reference to the checked deletion time information, if the absolute time information which is independent of start time of playing, coincides with or precedes the present time (S35), the clip of A/V system is considered to be a proprietary television program or movie with copyright protection or payment required, and the A/V stream may be deleted (S36). If the automatic deletion flag (time_bomb_flag) is not set or the deletion time information (expire_time_info) is set after present time, the VDR system 3 may perform an ordinary play operation upon user request (S37).

On the other hand, if the deletion time information (expire_time_info) is recorded as a relative time information counted from the start of the initial play of the clip of the A/V stream, elapsed time from the initial play of the clip of A/V stream may be counted and compared with deletion time information. Subsequently, when the elapsed time counted from the initial play coincides with or exceeds the deletion time information, the A/V stream may be deleted, whereas if the elapsed time counted from the initial play is less than the deletion time information, the ordinary play operation upon user request may be performed.

Moreover, by adding an edition protection flag (edit_protect_flag) to prevent partial deletion or unauthorized editing of the corresponding clip of the A/V stream to the user interface application information playlist (UIAppInfo PlayList), and thereafter enabling the edition protection flag and the automatic deletion flag and deletion time information to be related each other, copyright protection and secured payment for proprietary television programs or movies can be made effective.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. Thus, those skilled in the art may utilize the invention and various embodiments with improvements, modifications, substitutions, or additions within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims. 

1. A method of managing digital content, comprising: receiving a digital content, and a control information including a time information to restrict a playback of the digital content and a protection information preventing the digital content from modifying; and managing the digital content according to the control information, wherein the time information represents a time period capable of playback.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the managing step includes steps of analyzing the time information whether the time information indicates a relative time or an absolute time, the relative time being counted from the start of playback for the digital content, and the absolute time being counted from the receiving of the digital content, and controlling the playback of the digital content as a result of analyzing step.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the analyzing step further includes a step of comparing the time information with a current time if the time is absolute time, and the controlling step controls the playback of digital content as a result of comparing step.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling step comprises that the digital content can be played if a result of the comparing step indicates that there is time remaining in which access to the digital content is allowed.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling step comprises that the digital content cannot be played if a result of the comparing step indicates that there is no time remaining in which access to the digital content is allowed.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the analyzing step further includes a step of comparing the time information with a counted time to access if the time is relative time, and the controlling step controls the playback of digital content as a result of comparing step.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step further receives the control information including an indication information to indicate whether the time information is present, wherein the managing step includes steps of checking whether the time information is present based on the indication information, determining whether the digital content can be played according to the time information if the indication information is present as a result of checking step, and controlling the playback of the digital content as a result of determining step.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the managing step manages the digital content to be not edited without an authority, based on the protection information.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the time information and the protection information are bound to prevent the digital content from unauthorized access.
 10. A method of managing digital content, comprising: receiving a digital content, a control information including an indication information to indicate whether a time information to restrict a playback of the digital content is present, the time information present alternatively according to the indication information, and a protection information preventing the digital content from modifying; and managing the digital content according to the control information and the protection information,
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the managing step includes steps of checking whether the time information is present based on the indication information, analyzing whether the time information indicates a relative time or an absolute time if the time information is present as a result of checking step, the relative time being counted from the start of playback for the digital content, and the absolute time being counted from the receiving of the digital content, determining whether the digital content can be played according to the relative time or absolute time as a result of analyzing step, and controlling the playback of the digital content as a result of determining step.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step includes a step of comparing the time information with a current time if the time is absolute time, and the controlling step controls the playback of digital content as a result of comparing step.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step includes a step of comparing the time information with a counted time to access if the time is relative time, and the controlling step controls the playback of digital content as a result of comparing step.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the managing step manages the digital content to be not edited without an authority, based on the protection information. 